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Human Service Worker III

Fairfax County Government
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Job Announcement

One or more positions may be filled from this job announcement to work in the Department's Fairfax office, including Fraud Investigator and Agency Claims Specialist. Under general supervision examines allegations of suspected fraud and/or agency errors for all public assistance programs: SNAP, TANF, General Relief, Auxiliary Grant, Energy Assistance, Child Care, and Child Care providers and service vendors.

This position establishes and tracks claims due to agency-caused error, while the Fraud Investigator is responsible for conducting investigations and establishing claims due to client-caused errors, whether intentional or unintentional. Work together at times if, through review, an agency error is discovered to be fraud related or a fraud referral turns out to be an agency error.

The positions involve:
 

  • Reviewing allegations and referrals for accuracy, completeness, and analyzing the department’s case record. Once the discrepancy is identified, either an investigation is conducted by the fraud investigator to determine intent by the individual or vendor, or an agency-caused error is pursued by the agency claims specialist.
  • Calculating overpayments and establishing claims, either as an agency-caused error or as an Inadvertent Household Error or Intentional Program Violation. Must have clear and concise oral and written communication skills both in documenting the case record as well as discussing the violation or error with the client, in any appeals, and/or in preparing the case for Administrative Disqualification Hearing or court.
  • Understanding the rules of evidence and using various methods of collection (i.e. use of technology, interview techniques, and written requests.) The result of the investigation is based on program policy, evidence, and the understanding of human error to determine if the action is due to agency error, inadvertent household error, or intentional program violation leading to a referral for Administrative Disqualification hearing or to the Commonwealth’s Attorney Office for prosecution.
  • Completing Rushmore reviews on case errors and tracking the causes, sources, and the cost of the errors in the case of agency-caused errors.
  • Supporting the PARIS work.
  • Necessary skills include the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of individuals to including but not limited to law enforcement, attorneys, hearing officer, agency staff, clients and other individuals; ability to prepare reports, thoroughly document case investigation, consistently demonstrate organizational skills, regularly monitor and update database(s) and tracking system(s), and ability to meet deadlines timely. Participates in staff development and provides guidance to agency for fraud prevention detection and claims.

 

Illustrative Duties

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)
Maintains knowledge of current public assistance and employment policies and applies, explains and interprets complex federal, state, and local policies to clients, service providers, attorneys, the public, and other interested parties;
Conducts in-depth interviews of clients to determine and reassess eligibility of clients for financial, publicly supported medical services and/or medical public assistance programs;
Performs client needs assessment to aid in making appropriate referrals to other services;
Works with clients to assist with gathering of information necessary to establish eligibility;
Compiles and maintains data and documents and may prepare written narratives to support eligibility determinations;
Ensures timely processing of applications to meet client needs and program policy mandates;
Authorizes public assistance (e.g., medical aid, financial assistance, food stamps) based on client circumstances and public assistance program requirements;
Uses various forms of automated technology to document, obtain, and verify information, to generate reports, and to authorize benefits and services for clients, service providers, attorneys, the public, and other interested parties;
Assists clients in obtaining the resources necessary to meet emergency needs;
Assists clients in obtaining services and coordinates these with other service providers as needed;
Coordinates and manages clients' participation in a variety of services;
Participates in case staffings with other county staff or community organizations to assess and address needs of clients;
Prepares appeal documents and may represent the agency in administrative appeals filed by clients;
Provides guidance and assistance to employers and clients in the operation of an employment resource center;
Performs employability assessment of economically disadvantaged clients to develop a plan of service to aid them in securing employment;
Works with clients to identify and address barriers to employment;
Provides career counseling;
Assists job seekers with job search and resume development;
Participates in curriculum development, facilitates workshops, and works with businesses and workforce partners in response to customer needs;
Plans and participates in orientations and workforce related workshops;
Identifies, recruits and develops job opportunities with employers to place program participants including job sites for community work experience and on-the-job training;
Tracks, monitors, and reports on employment resource center resources, job leads and employment databases;
Develops marketing and presentation materials for the business community, the public and other human service providers;
Researches available grants and determines feasibility of acquisition of funds and appropriate projects for funding;
Assists with writing grant applications and proposals for funding;
Prepares required reports on federal, state and local grant performance outcomes;
Oversees and coordinates a program or project;
Assists the supervisor with duties that may include training, coaching, and reviewing the work of less experienced staff;
Serves as policy expert in one or more program areas, providing guidance, direction, and information to other staff;
Assist in the development of service strategies.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

c(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)
Knowledge of basic human behavior and social problems;
Knowledge of social, economic, health and cultural factors that can serve as barriers to employment;
Knowledge of federal, state and local laws and policies governing public assistance and welfare reform;
Ability to read, interpret and apply complex program policies and procedures;
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;
Ability to make mathematical computations;
Ability to schedule and manage workload sufficient to meet deadlines;
Ability to use automated technology to establish and maintain case records;
Ability to handle multiple deadlines, computer systems, high volume of client contact, high caseloads, and competing priorities;
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, co-workers and other human service providers;
Ability to work effectively with people under stress and those from various socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds;
Ability to maintain professional ethics related to confidentiality of client information;
Ability to provide excellent customer service;
Ability to work in a team environment;
Ability to maintain flexibility.
Ability to manage a complex caseload;
Ability to assess client needs through collection and analysis of employment history and other personal, family and cultural information;
Ability to use supportive counseling techniques to enhance and develop clients'  problem solving capabilities;
Ability to identify clients in crisis and intervene to stabilize the situation;
Ability to identify client issues needing referral to other human service providers (e.g., substance abuse, spousal abuse);
Ability to lead and coach other professional level staff;
Ability to develop and present training programs;
Ability to conduct research to identify grant opportunities;
Ability to develop presentations using automated technology.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree plus two years of human services or related professional work experience.

Contingent upon the area of assignment, some positions within this class may require specific certification(s) prior to employment and/or the ability to acquire necessary certification(s) within a specified time period following employment. The certifications are identified in the position description and employment advertisement.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
None.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to the position must satisfactorily complete a criminal background check and a Child protective services check.

This position is considered essential personnel and will be required to report to work during times designated countywide as approved for unscheduled leave regardless of the emergency situation (i.e., weather, transportation, other disaster).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
 

  • Thorough policy and system knowledge in all benefit programs to include Snap and all cash programs such as Tanf, Refugee Cash Assistance, and General Relief. Working knowledge of federal, state and local laws governing public assistance programs in the state of Virginia, childcare and service vendors and the ability to apply them correctly.
  • Minimum of 2 years of related Human Service Worker experience in benefit programs.
  • Proficiency in case reviews and providing feedback to staff.
  • Experience in the investigation of public assistance fraud and/or auditing programs for program and recipient integrity.
  • Knowledge of investigative techniques; legal proceedings; collection methods; system knowledge of CommonHelp, Spider, VaCMS, EPPIC, Data Warehouse, ECMS/Prodagio, Microsoft applications and the ability to work with electronic case files.
  • Clear and concise oral and written communications skills.
  • Ability to make public presentations and assist with training.


PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: 
Ability to input, access, and retrieve information from a computer.
Ability to perform repetitive hand, arm, wrist and shoulder movements.
Visual acuity to review detailed drawings, plans and documents
All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and may include exercise.

The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 38.7% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others) and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.  

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov EEO/AA/TTY.